Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 238 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

12 the pistol that now seemed burning in his pocket. But controlling his inward emotions with masterly skill, and feigning entire ignor- ance of the man’s identity, he said: ‘‘ Well, stranger, I’m now at your service.” ‘‘T presume your folks are heartily sick and tired of this unholy, bloody work?” he said, with a furtive look. “T can’t say that we are,” replied Frodd, determined not to show too much anxiety for terms of peace; ‘“‘our fellows over there are made of the material that never gets tired and sick when it comes to fighting red-skins and— and outlaws. The way we walloped the red- skins this morning makes us feel as though we were masters of that island, at least.” ‘‘But you cannot withstand a long siege,” said the outlaw. ‘*We’re fixed nicely for a few weeks, any how; however you can state your terms, and if deemed reasonable, we will consider them.” ‘*You have one man in your party that we want, and his deliverance into our hands will insure the rest of you your safety.” ‘* And who’s that?” asked Frodd. The truce-bearer, asif afraid to speak aloud leaned forward and spoke the namein a loud Me ‘* Well, well,” said Frodd, as a thought flashed through his brain, “‘ we think a great deal of that man, sir, and I think we would all rather die together than surrender one of our most gallant friends.” A smile passed over the face of the outlaw—a treacherous, sinister smile. i Well, you know now,” he said, ‘“‘ what I’m here for.” ‘Why do you want him, and no other?” = Frodd. ‘Why wouldn’t I do as well?” ‘* Because he is wanted,” was the emphatic response; ‘‘he made a false report to Govern- ment authorities as to the conduct and attitude of the Indians in Dakota, and that report was the means of bringing a lot of soldiers into the territory to hamper the freedom of the Indian, and open warfare has been the outcome of it. He lied, and nothing but his life will atone for the lives his act bas cost the Sioux.” ‘Tf that’s the ease let the Indians seek re- rp wt? the rene “ws if it mena ve n wron e guilty part i ys nag tere tin That’s the tavern way to settle that difficulty. The life of — friend will not stop the war but apply feed the In- dian thirst for more -blood. oreover, 1 don’t know that he’s guilty of the ae preferred, and even if I did, I would not be the coward to give him up to save my bacon. No, sir, tell your folks we’ll all die together.” ‘*Very well; you'll have the chance, for a messenger has been dispatched for a hundred warriors. Think well of what you have said.” ‘* All right; come on with your warriors,” said Old Ptolemy defiantly, “ you’ll get the best we've got. We'll die game, sir.” Thus the conference ended, and each of the men returned to his friends, ‘* What did the fellow have to offer?” asked La Fleur of Ptolemy. ‘‘He demanded the surrender of one of our friends,” replied Frodd,” and assured me of n0 further molestation in case we complied. He ey the party wanted is responsible for the bringing on of this Indian outbreak by false re- ports made to the Government.” ** And which of our friends is it?’ questioned tbe Frenchman. ‘*The one most likely to know the most about the Indians,” was the old man’s evasive reply. ** Ah!” exclaimed Old Max, with a shake of the head, ‘‘then we all know that the one wanted is Roger Millbank, but I will lay down my life in defense of the life I came so near tak- in 2 ' 1 aid not say it was Roger, Mr. La Fleur— I will not say who it is, for [ know there is not a man here but who is brave and chivalrous enough to give up his life, if needs be, to save his friend’s and | am determined no such sacri- fice shall be made: and that’s why I withhold the name. If any has to die, let us all die to- ether.” ** Second the motion, Mr. Frodd!” exclaimed the indomitable little Shocky, ‘we're no chicken-hearts to be skeered into a unconstitoo- shunal surrender. We can hold this island till the Missouri runs dry, or we starve. This is big talk for a tad like me, but I mean it all the same, by smidgeons!” “s for you, wees 6 shouted Rocky, “* Tl go my pile on you bein’ the gamest young rooster that ever scratched Missouri sand.” Aimee, assisted by her father, prepared din- ee ee rel we eee ne —— em The Parson Detective. ner for all, and after the meal was over a gen- eral consultation was held in the tent where poe Millbank and Tom Ackerman were con- D During the afternoon not an Indian or out- law was to be seen on either shore, and as night approached Frodd expressed the belief that the foe had entirely withdrawn, aud that the truce- bearer’s story of having sent for help was all a hoax. In this opinion Major Brandt and Ogilvie concurred, but the only definite way to settle the question beyond doubt was to send scouts ashore, as soon as darkness set in, Major Brandt volunteered to reconnoiter the right shore and Ptolemy the left, and at once departed on their dangerous mission. CHAPTER XI. A SILENT STRUGGLE. Wuat that night would bring forth no one knew. If the sav were still about, it was not unlikely that they would endeavor to ac- Scepeltens under the friendly cover of darkness, what they failed to accomplish in open day, and it was ae hopes of frustrating their designs that Ptolemy Frodd and Brandt had gone ashore. ; The old preacher-detective landed some dis- tance below the ruins of La Fleur’s cabin and cautiously made his way back from the river. He reconnoitered the woods along the hillside where the foe had been seen eee the day, but not the sign of a red-skin could he find. Still he was not fully satisfied, and concluded to go down the river aways and assuranee doubly sure, Passing below the Isle of Refuge, he finally found himself on a narrow ridge running to- ward the river, and which terminated on its bank with what was known as the Sentinel. This was simply a shaft of limestone rock some ten feet high by four or five in diameter at the base. It s there solitary and alone, and had the appearance of having been placed there by the hand of man. The sides of the ridge on which the Sentinel stood broke into perpendicu- lar embankments some thirty feet down the slope, and from within three feet of the base of the rock the end of the ridge pitched abruptly off into the river. So that one approaching the Sentinel must leave it by the way he came in if he would leave it safely. It was not a desirable place to be caught, but ignorant of the dangers of the place, Ptolemy Frodd moved on and ap- proached the Sentinel. There was no timber or shrubbery within sev- eral rods of the stone, and the sky being clear and the stars shining were 2 he could see the surrounding ridge and its pitfalls quite clearly. Stopping, he leaned against the Sentinel and looked up and down the river and then lis- tened. e heard a sound like the brush of a wing; then he saw a dark, elongated object ap- pear before his eyes, which he at first took for a narrow, black cloud drifting against the sky, but which soon resolved itself into the tube of a revolver clutched in a man’s hand; and then he realized with startling force that that hand and revolver were being followed around the Senti- nel by some one intent upon murder. Of course the natural conclusion was that it was an out- law, for an Indian, under the circumstances, would not have used a revolver—even had he one—when a tomahawk would have n a surer and more silent weepon. The revolver was in plain sight and still ad- vancing, though the owner’s body was concealed behind the rock, and drawing his own pistol Frodd began to retreat backward around tbe Sentinel just fast enough to keep the revolver and hand that held it in view. He was tempted once to put a ball through the unknown’s hand but concluded it would be better to wait and put it through his head, and so he movedon. In this manner the two circled around the shaft two or three times, when suddenly there was a flash and a sharp report, and a bullet cut close to that head of old Ptolemy’s which already bore two pistol-wounds. ) Involuntarily Frodd leaped backward from the stunning crack of the weapon. At the same time his own revolver was accidentally dis- charged, but with what effect he did not know for he never h a word from the unknown. Tn fact, not a word had been uttered by either of them yet. Pressing himself close against the rock Ptolemy kept a sharp look-out on both sides for the un- known who he felt satisfied was still on hand. Nor did he have to wait long before the black muzzle of that weapon appeared in sight ageie eying *9 a march upon him; and then again the advance and retreat began—silent as though both were voiceless. ee How long it was to last thus, and how it was to end, Frodd had not the faintest conception, but he finally made up his mind that it must end some way or other, and turning quickly, he dashed around the Sentinel hoping to find the rear of the foe unguarded. But he was somewhat mistaken, for the fellow seemed actuated by the same motive at the same instant, and the result was that the two came together with such violent force as to causethem to recoil half stunned. Their pistols were discharged at random or by ac- cident, and in the confusion of the moment they ran together again, and again actuated by the same impusle, eached dropped his revolver and clutched at the right hand of the other to pre- vent him shooting; but finding themselves dis- armed woot grappled in a hand-to-hand struggle. In strength they seemed well matched. ey still fought in silence. Suddenly they fell. Over and over the earth they rolled—this way and that—until finally they spun over the bank and went rolling in an avalanche of dirt and clay down the steep de- clivity into the sweeping turbid river. Nor was their hold on each other broke in the descent, but it became all the firmer when they plunged into the flood—they clung to each other with the desperation of drowning men, for the fight was now with the waves—not with each other. At this point the river swept in toward the shore with a strong current and in this the twe combatants were rolled and whirled down the stream, Half drowned they were finally landed im water where they could touch bottom, but ne sooner did they realize that se were, for the time being, free of danger from the waves than they began to pummel each other furiously. And the science that old Ptolemy had ay hee at the Pine Cone in chastising Rocky and Hohn, was again called into requisition. few, well- aimed blows convinced his antagonist that he was no match for the brawny preacher, and as there could be no other means of escape, he was forced to beg for mercy. ‘*Enough!” he cried, his mouth balf full of blood and water. ‘Good God, Ptolemy Frodd, don’t you see I’m a friend?” “Great King Solomon!” burst from Frodd’s lips, ‘it’s Major Brandt or I’m a blind Bar- timeas! In the name of goodness, man, why didn’t you speak out sooner? I might ’a’ killed ou! 4 ‘“‘T did speak the moment I recognized you,” said the major, as he stood in the water to his arm-pits, panting with exhaustion and pain; “*T was certain you was an Indian with that handkerchief around your head.” ‘‘ And so did I take you fora red-skim, not Cresiing. 0 fee being on this side of the river,” replied odd. ‘T came over here because—” ‘‘Ha! ha! ha! quite a ludicrous mistake, folkses!’’ suddenly broke in upon the ears of the two men, and the next moment a canoe with a single occupant ran out from the shadows of the bank alongside of them. e “+ iagae as I am born!” exclaimed Ptolemy ‘‘ Bet your pile it is, boys,” replied that tadi- vidual, as he assisted the two half-drowned mea into his boat. ‘‘ How in the world came you here, Rocky?” asked Frodd. “Wal, arter you fellers left the islan’, Roger Millbank and that boy, Shocky, a confab; both come to the ’clusion that the best thing te be done was to send to River View for help, and Shoc determined to go at once. al, I brought him ashore, landin’ him a hundred yards below here *bout ten minutes ago. That's what brought me here.” “ Well, I’m glad you're here, Rocky, for my eyes are about in the same condition that yours have been lately—somewhat bunged—and you'll oblige me by hurrying this craft to the island, where I can procure some ointments,” said Ma- jor Brandt, humorously. Rocky indulged in an outburst of laughter, then headed the canoe up-stream. In a few minutes they had reached the island, and having made known their plight, Max La Fleur furnished Frodd and Brandt with dry clothing. : The silent conflict of the two friends, and its ludicrous termination, formed the topic of a rather laughable conversation in the tent of the wounded. Assured that they were menaced by no imme- diate danger, all laid down to sleep exeept Rocky and La Fleur, who stood guard. Frodd, Brandt and Ogilvie slept on blankets in the open air, or rather Brandt and Ogilvie did, for Frodd did not close an eye that night, 4s a JOO eGoim G “S (EO)